The auditorium is one of the biggest room in Fujiidera High School. At first glance, everyone would think that many people were occupying this place.
But the lack of club members was quite the problem since the seniors left due to college. Now, third years had to recruit some first-years to fill in the gap.
The 3 first years that joined for this year saved the club since they would have a sufficient number to manage the plays.
They should barely cope with the numbers if they know how to properly handle the roles they are given.
Chiziwa Paro, the President of the Drama Club, signalled those 3 first years as they also noticed Harue and Ike entering the clubroom.
They approached the new face that they had never seen during their stay in the auditorium.
Who was she? An acquaintance, another recruit or both?
The questions on their mind were left unanswered but it would soon be unravelled.
"Come and greet Fukuyama Harue-kun. He is your senpai."
'He'?!? And to add more to the surprise, Harue is older than the three of the first years?
It was awkward now since they thought otherwise. The 3 first years looked at each other with some troubling thoughts.
Now they had a proper lesson in their mind about judging a person from their appearances.
"H-Hello, Fukuyama-Senpai. My name is Serizawa Fujita. I am from Class 1-3."
The first one to muster up and greeted Harue is the boy.
"Hello." He unintentionally sounded cute since he got referred to as a 'Senpai'. So his morale was boosted from Hishimi's slander before.
"It's nice to meet you too Fujita-kun."
"...Eh?"
The boy, Serizawa Fujita, was stupefied as he was called by his first name. It was understandable if he and Fukuyama Harue had known each other for a long time but this was his first encounter.
During his first meeting, gaining a first name basis relationship is pretty uncommon.
Harue noticed his dumbstruck expression so he questioned the President, Chiziwa Paro.
"Paro-san, didn't you tell them about the first rule of this club?"
To that, she was a bit puzzled on what he was talking about. But shortly after, she completely understood his meaning. So she apologized.
"Ah...I'm sorry Harue-kun. I forgot."
Paro was wryly smiling as she comprehended her mistake. She had no other excuse because that's what exactly happened to her.
Even though she is the President of this club, she isn't responsible, in Harue's perspective. It can't be helped because she was appointed for this position due to unfortunate circumstances.
One of Harue's and Paro's senior, who left, was the President. Now he decided for Paro to be bestowed with the title. Although she was not experienced, the former President deemed her suitable.
Now it was up to her to manage this club.
"Paro-chan is clumsy and forgetful." Hishimi teasingly spoke as she embarrassed Paro in front of the 3 first years.
Paro was about to say something offensive but she retracted back. She did not want to show the newcomers her disgraceful side.
Harue stopped their little fight by instructing Paro what to do. He was like an advisor for her. Nevertheless, she listened.
"Go on, explain the rules."
She nodded and veered to the 3 first years.
"There are 3 rules that we need to follow in this club."
The 2 girls and Fujita, listened to their senior attentively. Even though they were surprised at the way Harue talked to Paro, they decided to ignore this fact for a moment.
"First rule," she lifted one finger, "Being called by our surnames are forbidden. Call us by our first names. We put forward this rule so as to strengthen our relationship for the time we will spend in not only in this club but outside."
It is kind of an understandable concept that they are aiming for them. It is just that it is going to take some time to adjust with this rule for the moment.
So those 3 reacted awkwardly as they glanced at each other. Eventually, they would cope with it.
"Second rule," Paro lifted another finger, "Be respectful. I am sure that everyone here won't break this rule but I'm just stating what Harue-kun asked me to do."
Harue nodded to a good thing Paro said. Those 3 too agreed with him.
"Third and last of all," she lifted her third finger and smiled as she proudly said, "Let's enjoy ourselves."
That last rule made everyone grin merrily which made the three newcomers also join them in smiling.
"So now you know rules. Do you like them?"
Paro asked for their opinion but judging by their expression, it is pretty obvious that they were not against it.
"Yes, Chiziwa-senpai." One of the girls was in accord with Paro.
But she soon got scolded pretty quickly.
"You broke the first rule!" Hishimi, the ever so energetic girl rebuked her but her tone was frivolous.
"Ah, I'm sorry...It is going to take some time for us to completely follow the rule. So.....I'm sorry."
Adachi Yuna intervened and sympathised with the new girl.
"No need to say sorry. I was also like you and I fully understand."
The girl's end of her lips raised with content. She thought that Adachi Yuna could be one of the first people that she could get along well.
*Claps*
Everyone focused at Harue who clapped once to get everyone's attention.
"Now that they know the club's rule, let's continue the introduction because I only know Fujita-kun's name."
Harue looked at the two other girls as he said that.
The girl who just spoke with Yuna cleared her throat and presented herself in front of her seniors.
"Sorry for the late introduction. My name is Inouye Nami. I am in class 1-5. It's good to meet you.....Harue-senpai."
Uttering his first name and adding 'Senpai' too, he approved of this. He was blatantly happy with the development.
He nodded happily, "Nice to meet you too, Nami-san."
Next was the shy girl who hasn't talked to anyone yet since Harue walked in with Ike.
".....M-My name is....Konishi...Rina. I am in class 1-3. Nice to meet you, .....H-Harue-senpai."
The other new boy, Serizawa Fujita's eyebrow twitched as he realized that he is in the same class as Konishi Rina. It is good to know for him to make another friend.
Harue ended with Konishi Rina, "Nice to meet you too Rina-san."
Now it was his turn.
"Hello to you three. My name is Fukuyama Harue. A third year. And I am in charge of the costume department in this club. Nice to meet you all."
The three bowed to him and thus the introductions finished.
"Ah, speaking of costume, I have it all in my bag. It's ready."
Yuna was surprised at Harue's statement.
"You finished it!? In just a week? By yourself?"
Paro too joined in astonishment. They couldn't believe it.
"When did you find the time? How?"
He had to stop there because these 2 girls were getting too noisy for him.
"Well, no need to be surprised you know and for the record, I didn't do it myself."
All the boys excluding Fujita, which are Ike, Seita and Daisuke were not that taken aback by Harue. After all, they knew it for some time.
Daisuke and Seita saw Harue sew a couple of clothes which did seem incomplete at the hospital.
As for Ike, when he copied the topics covered in class and gave it to Harue, he could see a few complete costumes beside him.
"In the hospital, there was an old lady which was right beside my bed. So I made her acquaintance and found out that she was skilled in sewing. Then I offered her to help me and she agreed."
He explained everything as he rested his bag on a seat. He took out something and presented to everyone.
"Tada! Here are the old lady's and my results."
He handed out the colourful costumes to every single member as they admired the work Harue had done. The clothes looked to be from a medieval era.
It was a correct set of clothes that Harue made because the setting of their next play would be definitely in this kind of theme.
"What is this? This is so beautiful."
Yuna was in shock of how elegant the dress was. She held it in such a way that it was showcased it for everyone to admire.
One of the first-year girl, Inouye Nami, was in awe of such design that got embroidered into these clothes. She acknowledged that her senior is skilled, no wonder he is in charge of the costumes.
"That one is for the main female lead to wear."
Paro complimented Harue, "This dress just further makes my story more believable, doesn't it?"
To be clear of what she said, Chiziwa Paro was not just the President of the club just in name. She is the scriptwriter and also the director of the many plays they played on.
So to be precise, it is up to her on how she wants to shape the plays.
This play that they were preparing is, as shown by the clothes, from medieval times. As for the story, it is nobility-based. It goes like this.
A poor boy was found to have a great power that could be rivalled to that of the King.
The boy attracted many people's interests and jealously. But the boy dealt with everyone with his kind personality.
One day he encountered the Princess, which he fell in love with at first sight. Alas, the Princess was not feeling the same for him.
However, circumstances brought the boy and the Princess closer. The Princess gradually starts to get to know about the boy and falls in love as well.
The King who knew about the existence of the boy feared that one day he would be usurped of this position by the boy.
The King's sons were all in agreement that he should be disposed of.
From there on, battles happened between the Princess' brothers and the King. The King's sons used every way possible to get rid of the boy from their sister's life. After a long emotional battle, the boy convinced the family.
Paro would explain this part in detail with everyone later.
"Well now that I think about it, you three are planning on acting, right?"
"Ah...yes..."
Nami agreed and the two nodded along.
"Paro-san, what role are they going to get?"
Paro put a thumb under her chin as she contemplated, those three waited for an answer. It was not yet decided but now is the time.
Since Harue doesn't know their approximate acting skill so he does not want to butt in her decisions. Moreover, his only problems are the costumes so that's why he only cares about their attire.
"For Fujita-Kun, you are going to be playing as the kind merchant that guides the poor protagonist to a safe place in the beginning. You will appear from time to time to aid the boy because the merchant was in debt of the boy's generosity."
Fujita accepted his role. Next, Paro concentrated on Nami."
"Nami-san, as I see you, I think that I am going to make you play the Princess's personal maid."
Nami was confused and felt a bit of discourtesy from the way that Paro spoke. It seemed like Paro noticed what Nami was thinking about so she had to disarm what she said.
"I meant it with no offence Nami-san. Don't misunderstand."
Nami stared at her silently waiting for her to explain.
"From what I could conclude in this one week is that you are cool-headed and a little stoic, at least to me. Those are the very trait that intertwines with the maid. She is going to be a major character in my story later on."
Well, Nami was happy and at the same time pressured, since Paro added that the role of the maid is going to be crucial.
Despite that, she was prepared for it.
"And for Rina-san.....hmm..."
She pondered again as she hovered her gazed towards the shy girl.
"How about the protagonist's little sister? She has an important role too but her acting time is small compared to others. If that is okay, are you comfortable with it?"
".....Y-Yes, it is fine..." She nervously replied to Paro.
"Great! You got it, Harue-kun?"
"Yes." Harue who listened to them immediately gave orders to Hishimi.
"Hishimi-san, can you take the measurement for Nami-san and Rina-san while I do for Fujita-san?"
"I'm on it."
She obeyed as Harue too got back to his work. He went to measure Fujita who was feeling nervous about getting his attire for the play.
For now, Harue, Hishimi and the three first years were busy about their wardrobe management.
The others were discussing the play that they were about to get into.
The drama club will participate in a regional tournament that will start in 1 month from now on. They are preparing for that. If this school is selected for good performance, then they would continue through for the eight of finals.
But competing with other multiple schools with skilled drama club members is not going to be easy.
Harue finished noting the measurement for Fujita so he sat on of the many comfortable seats in the auditorium. He examined the numbers on the piece of paper as he was thinking seriously.
After a while, Hishimi approached Harue.
"Harue-senpai, here."
She gave him another piece of paper which contained information about the girl's measurement. He grabbed it and read it intently.
She sat next to him casually and converse.
"Harue-senpai, can't you just rest here for a while? Why are you straight going to work on their attires?"
He honestly replied with, "I'm bored. That's why. There is nothing to do and that somehow irritates me more than cleaning the most uncleaned spot."
Hishimi chuckled at his cute display.
"You are like my mom."
"Then your mother has a great personality."
She chuckled again at his honest and witty reply.
Momentarily after, Harue diverted the conversation to another direction.
"More importantly, are those three good?"
Without glancing at them, Hishimi knew what he was talking about. Harue does not know them well but Hishimi does since she saw them practice.
"From what I see, they are good but the shy girl, Rina-chan is somehow inconsistent."
He remained silent.
"Nami-chan is above average and Fujita-chan too is skilled enough and has potential. In fact, all three of them has potential."
Harue sighed.
"Do you think 'potential' is enough to be able to compete in the final tournament? Potential takes more than a year to bloom."
Harue, Paro and Ike are third years. This is their final year in this club so they want to make it at least a memorable one.
Hishimi caught on to Harue's meaningful words. The only thing that could motivate Harue was a double-edged sword. Nevertheless, Hishimi mustered courage and declared.
"Looks like Mitani-san is the one who will lead this club high up."
There was a short silence but Harue continues.
"Well, as long as everyone 'cooperates' with her."
Hishimi dryly laughed at his cute senior.
*Door opens*